Release Date: 7/20/2012

Contact: Diana L. Spencer, 410-887-8905

TOWSON, MD— Dozens of educational computer games, created by Baltimore County Public Schools’ students and teachers, are available online. The fun and interactive learning experiences cover a wide range of topics including chemistry, calculus, basic math, Spanish language, geology, biology, business management, and genetics. Student-created games are available at http://tinyurl.com/6we552y, and both teacher- and student- created games can be found at http://tinyurl.com/7ek8t4f. More games will be added as they are developed. The games were created through Baltimore County Public Schools’ Learning in Virtual Environments initiative (Project L.i.V.E.), coordinated by the school system’s Department of Technology. Most of the online games resulted from teachers engaging in Project L.i.V.E. professional development workshops to learn how to incorporate gaming concepts into their classrooms. Some of the online games were developed through an annual Project L.i.V.E. contest to challenge students to develop concepts for educational games based on BCPS’ curriculum. Winning concepts are then transformed into games in partnership with higher education and industry partners. In addition to these activities, Project L.i.V.E. also consists of an internationally renowned virtual learning arena and lab for students at Chesapeake High School, a research design model that measures the effects of gaming on student achievement, and a three-dimensional Virtual High School portal. “Through Project L.i.V.E., BCPS is advancing learning through the direct development of games and virtual environments based on our curriculum," said Daniel Scroggs, BCPS’ manager of Virtual Learning/Special Projects and Administrative Technology Support. “By working from curriculum, we can address the most challenging needs of teachers and provide interactive experiences that are far more immersive than any text and that draw in today's students with enthusiasm." Michelle Hohman, a Grade 6 science team leader and technology liaison at Golden Ring Middle School, concurs. She participated in two Project L.i.V.E. workshops this summer. “I think that teaching teachers to make games is an enormously useful endeavor that will truly benefit our students!" she wrote. “My students are going to absolutely love the games I've made for this year; and because I've made the games myself, I know exactly how to incorporate them to ensure the greatest impact on their learning. “

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